ES2566657T3 - Hygienic device for sanitary devices - Google Patents

Abstract

Hygienic device for sanitary appliances (10), comprising detergent and / or deodorant means in the form of a solid block (20) and hook means (30) to a peripheral edge of a toilet, in which said hook means (30) comprise a first coupling part with the toilet (31) and a second coupling part (32) with said solid block (20), and wherein said solid block (20) comprises at least one rear flat surface (21) for coupling with said engagement means (30), characterized in that said second coupling part (32) with the solid block (20) comprises a flat surface (33) facing forward, with a shape and dimensions complementary to said at least one rear flat surface (21) of the solid block, said flat surfaces (21, 33) being arranged butt with respect to each other, in which a sizing material (40) is arranged in the interface between said surface rear plane (21) of the solid block (20) and said flat surface (33) of the second coupling part (32) of the engagement means (30), and wherein said rear flat surface (21) of said block solid (20) has smaller dimensions in the plane than the outer rear surface (23) of the solid block (20), said flat rear surface (21) of the solid block (20) being arranged in a position lowered in thickness (X ) of the solid block (20) and defining the bottom of a cavity (22).

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Hygienic device for sanitary devices.

The present invention relates to a hygienic device for sanitary appliances.

It is known to use hygienic devices for sanitary appliances, such as a toilet, to be placed in the sanitary appliance through a suitable hook which is attached to the peripheral edge thereof.

The known hygienic devices can be divided into so-called "solid tablets", which comprise detergent and / or solid deodorant media and so-called "liquid tablets", which comprise detergent and / or deodorant means for the liquid state toilet dispensed to Through a bottle.

In particular, the first type of hygienic toilet devices generally comprises a perforated dispenser referred to as a "cage", provided with a hook for coupling with the edge of the toilet bowl and containing the detergent and / or deodorant means therein in the form of a solid block, also referred to as "soap bar".

Currently, solid state detergent and / or deodorant media are generally manufactured through an extrusion process.

Each time the toilet is flushed with water, the water that directly impacts the cage dispensing element dissolves and rinses a small amount of the detergent and / or deodorant product from the solid block contained in the cage.

A disadvantage of cage devices of this type lies in the high environmental impact thereof. Actually, at the end of its use, when the detergent and / or perfume means are consumed, the entire dispensing element, which comprises the hook and the cage, is discarded.

In addition, cage devices, when applied to the toilet, are bulky and have an antistetic appearance that can be considered unattractive.

Other hygienic toilet devices have been developed that have solid detergent and / or perfume media hanging on the edge of the perfometer using a less bulky structure than the cage. For example, applications WO 2007/107750 Al and WO 2007/107755 A1 show solid detergent means in which a plate disposed at the end of the hook is directly embedded to hang it on the peripheral edge of the toilet. The solid detergent means substantially have the entire outer surface exposed to the wash water, the plate being inside the solid block itself.

The main disadvantage of such a device lies in the very irregular consumption of detergent and / or perfume media, which acquire an unpleasant appearance even after a relatively low number of discharge water beacons. An additional disadvantage is observed in the production process which requires providing a special stage that has the formation of a groove in the solid block so as to allow insertion of the plate.

Another example of a hygienic toilet device comprising solid detergent and / or perfume means is known from patent application EP 2 270 286 A1, which shows how to centrally provide the solid block with a through hole in which it is inserted a transverse piece provided at one end of the hook to hang on the peripheral edge of the toilet.

Even in these types of devices the size of the structure is smaller than the cage devices, but in any case not to benefit the appearance of the solid block, which should receive the through hole. Actually, in this case the support structure always remains visible and in fact the aesthetic defects of the conventional cage are still present, at least partially.

An additional example consists of the hygienic device represented in the international patent application WO 2011/141720 A1, in which the solid block fits into one or more pins that extend from an end part of the hook to hang it on the peripheral edge of the toilet.

A first disadvantage is observed in the growing risk that the solid detergent and / or deodorant block may break during consumption.

Additionally, in cases where the end part of the hook is oriented towards the outside of the device, this is exposed to the user's view, a considerable part of the support structure of the hygienic device is exposed to the view. This aspect is perceived as even more unpleasant when the solid block,

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starting to be consumed, stop being attached to it.

In the case where the end of the hook instead is oriented towards the wall of the toilet, the pins must have a considerable length, so that they are prevented from sticking to the solid block during consumption, thereby causing He himself falls. In this way, the pins can however be visible from the front during block consumption and this situation is not desired.

An object of the present invention is to provide a hygienic device for sanitary appliances capable of overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hygienic device for sanitary appliances capable of being consumed regularly and capable of remaining hung on the hook for the longest possible consumption time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hygienic device for sanitary appliances that is particularly simple and functional, with low costs.

These objects according to the present invention are achieved by providing a hygienic device for sanitary devices as outlined in claim 1.

Additional features are provided in the dependent claims.

The characteristics and advantages of a hygienic device for sanitary appliances according to the present invention will be better apparent from the following exemplary and non-limiting description with reference to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hygienic device for sanitary appliances according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the rear side of the solid detergent block of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the engagement means of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 5 schematically shows, in an exploded view, the interposition of a glue material between the solid block and the engagement means of the device of Figure 1.

With reference to the figures, a hygienic device for sanitary appliances is shown, indicated in its entirety with 10, which comprises detergent and / or deodorant means in the form of a solid block 20 and means 30 for engaging it in a peripheral edge of a toilet .

The hooking means 30 comprise a first coupling part 31 with the toilet and a second coupling part 32 with the solid block 20.

The first part 31 for coupling with the toilet consists of a flexible hook suitable for coupling around the edge of the toilet. An element of this type can have varied shapes and dimensions.

The second coupling part 32 with the solid block 20 comprises a flat surface 33 facing forward, this is towards the inside of the toilet a centering collar 34 arranged in an intermediate position between the second coupling part 32 with the solid block 20 and the flexible hook 31.

Solid block 20 can be obtained through any of the known technologies, for example through extrusion or coextrusion and subsequent molding or casting.

In solid block 20 it comprises at least one flat rear surface 21 for supporting against the flat surface 33 of the engagement means 30.

The rear flat surface 21 for engagement with the engagement means 30, according to a preferred embodiment, has a smaller flat dimension with respect to the rear outer surface 23 of the solid block 20.

According to a preferred embodiment, the rear flat surface 21 of the solid block 20 is arranged in a recessed position in the thickness X of the solid block 20, that is to say the bottom of a cavity 22 obtained with respect to a rear outer surface 23 of the solid block 20. In the example shown, the depth of the cavity 22 is equivalent to approximately half of the thickness X.

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In the illustrated example, the flat rear surface 21 of the solid block comprises a circular part arranged substantially centered with respect to the solid block 20 a part for connection to the external penimeter.

The flat surface 32 of the engagement means 30 has a complementary shape with respect to the rear flat surface 21 of the solid block 20, which also comprises a circular part and a connecting part, so that the second part 32 for coupling with the solid block 20 of the coupling means 30 is received in the cavity 22.

Preferably, the rear flat surface 21 should be equivalent to 30-70% of the rear outer surface 23 of the solid block 20, preferably between 40% and 50%.

According to alternative embodiments, not shown, the cavity 22 may have a depth X less than and substantially equivalent to the thickness of the second part 32 for engagement with the solid block 20, so that it is level with the rear exterior surface 23 of the solid block, but does not extend from it, when the device 10 is mounted for the first time.

Generally, the flat rear surface 21 can be reduced to 5% of the outer rear surface 23 of the solid block 20.

During assembly of the hygienic device 10 according to the invention, the gluing material 40 is disposed at the interface between the flat rear surface 21 of the solid block 20 and the flat surface 33 of the second coupling part 32 of the coupling means 30, as schematically represented in figure 5.

For the purpose of the present invention, the sizing material used as a chemical composition compatible with the tablet that is exposed to the discharge of the discharge water, that is, the chemical composition is of such type that it maintains the flat rear surface 21 of the solid block. 20 and the flat surface 33 of the second coupling part 32 of the hooking means 30 joined during use of the device. Preferably, the above-mentioned sizing material is capable of holding the aforementioned surfaces together for at least 150 buckets of the discharge water.

Examples of sizing materials that can be used are glues based on cyanoacrylate compounds (cyanoacrylate glues). The cyanoacrylate glues are adhesives of an individual reactive component which comprises at least one polymer comprising repetitive units selected, for example, from alkyl esters or alkoxy alkyl esters of the a-cyanoacrylate acid wherein:

- the alkyl group is a group comprising from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and possibly at least one unsaturated ethylene;

- the alkoxy group is a group comprising from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and possibly at least one unsaturated ethylene;

Examples of the alkyl or alkoxy alkyl groups are: methyl, ethyl, n-butyl, allyl and methoxyethyl.

The cyanoacrylate tails harden very quickly, at room temperature, following the polymerization reaction of the aforementioned monomers, which can be triggered by the moisture present in the environment and / or on the surface of the tablet.

Other possible sizing materials that can be used for the purpose of the present invention are the application tails in the molten state. These glues comprise polymers in solid form at temperatures generally below 80 ° C. The polymers, for example, can be in the form of blocks, bars or granules. With respect to the application, the solid polymer is heated, for example through a hot gun, to a temperature higher than the melting temperature thereof (generally between 120-220 ° C) and then applied in a fluid state to the surfaces to be attached. Upon cooling, the formation of the adhesive joint between the coupled surfaces occurs.

Application tails in the molten state may comprise polymers of different natures. For example, the application tails in the molten state may comprise at least one amorphous polyolefin polymer selected from: atactic polypropylene, ethylene-propylene copolymer, propylene-butene copolymer and propylene-hexene copolymer.

The application glues in the molten state may also comprise at least one polymer selected from: ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA), possibly with elastomers, polyamides, polyester and polyurethanes added.

The sizing material to be used is also selected depending on the chemical composition of the detergent tablet. The type of components present in the tablet (for example, the type of surfactant or filler

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used), can really affect the bond strength of the adhesive gasket.

The above-mentioned sizing materials can be applied to one or both surfaces of the device to be adhered by using the devices of the prior art.

After coupling between the solid block 20 and the hooking means 30 so that the solid block 20 is abutted against the centering collar 34, the solid block 20 is then stably held in the second coupling part 32 of the coupling means 30.

In the course of the operation on the peripheral edge of a toilet, in each flushing water bucket the latter impacts the hygienic device with an improved consumption for sanitary appliances 10 in a different way according to the toilet model. In the two opposite extreme modes of operation there is a turbulent movement in a rain-like descent that adheres to the surface of the toilet. In both extreme modes, the flow of water impacts the solid block 20 mainly at the rear, that is the side facing the surface of the toilet, thereby dragging a certain amount of detergent and / or perfume substance into particular in the part not covered by the second part 32 for coupling with the solid block 20.

According to the preferred embodiment, in which the second part 32 for coupling with the solid block 20 of the hooking means 30 is contained in the cavity 22, there will be a greater thickness of bound material to be consumed before starting consumption of the solid block 20 also in the part covered by the coupling means. With the progressive consumption of the solid block 20, the progressive infiltration of water at the interface between the solid block 20 and the second coupling part 32 of the coupling means 30 actually occurs. This phenomenon causes an erosion of the flat surface 21 of the block solid 20 and therefore a reduction of the adhesion surface with the flat surface 33 of the second coupling part 32 of the engagement means 30. Advantageously when the adhesion surface is reduced, the solid block 20 has a weight reduced, which however must be sustained, thereby extending the service life of the product.

The hygienic device for sanitary devices subject to the present invention has the advantage that it maintains the integrity of the solid block for as long as possible so that its breakage is avoided.

An additional advantage lies in the simplicity of production.

Another advantage lies in the fact that the second coupling part with the solid block is kept hidden during the entire service life of the product.

The hygienic device for sanitary devices conceived in this way can be subject to many modifications and variants, all of which remain within the scope of the invention, in addition, all the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may vary according to the technical requirements.

Claims (5)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 1. Hygienic device for sanitary devices (10), comprising detergent and / or deodorant means in the form of a solid block (20) and hooking means (30) to a peripheral edge of a toilet, in which said means of engagement (30) comprise a first coupling part with the toilet (31) and a second coupling part (32) with said solid block (20), and wherein said solid block (20) comprises at least one surface rear plane (21) for coupling with said engagement means (30), characterized in that said second coupling part (32) with the solid block (20) comprises a flat surface (33) facing forward, with a shape and complementary dimensions of said at least one rear flat surface (21) of the solid block, said flat surfaces (21, 33) being arranged butt with respect to each other, in which a gluing material (40) is arranged at the interface between said plan surface rear (21) of the solid block (20) and said flat surface (33) of the second coupling part (32) of the engagement means (30), and wherein said rear flat surface (21) of said block solid (20) has smaller dimensions in the plane than the rear exterior surface (23) of the solid block (20), said rear flat surface (21) of the solid block (20) being arranged in a position reduced in thickness (X ) of the solid block (20) and defining the bottom of a cavity (22). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said coupling means (30) comprise a centering collar (34) disposed in an intermediate position between said second coupling part (32) with the solid block (20) and said first coupling part (31) with the toilet, said solid block (20) being abutted against said centering collar (34). 3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the rear flat surface (21) is equal to 30-70% of the rear outer surface (23) of the solid block (20), preferably 40-50%. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cavity (22) has a depth equal to about half the thickness (X) of said solid block (20). Device according to any one of claims 1 or 4, characterized in that said rear surface (21) of the solid block (20) comprises a circular part arranged substantially centered with respect to said solid block (20) and a part for connection with the external perfometer